Star Wars D6 or FFG Star Wars

[Alastor04]

I like Star Wars but I'm having trouble picking which RPG I'd like to play. It seems online that there are two favorites: Star Wars d6 or FFG Star Wars. I am familiar with FFG Star Wars but I have some nit picks about it. Id like to learn more about star wars d6. Here are some concerns I have?

1) It seems rather lethal, how are starting characters supposed to survive? I get when out gunned you should run and dodge but it just looks to me like it is a little more lethal than I'd like.
2) The skill list: To me it seems the skill list is a little too granular also is there a master list? What do you guys use?
3) Lightsaber combat: This power seems complicated and overpowered. Is there a common house rule? Are the rules from first edition too powerful?

[Alastor04]

Is this skill list too abbreviated?

Dexterity [6] -Acrobatics -Dodge -Lightsabers -Melee Combat -Ranged (Light) -Ranged (Heavy)

Knowledge [10] -Appraise -Bureaucracy -Education -Intimidation -Planetary Systems -Streetwise -Survival -Tactics -Willpower -Xenology

Mechanical [8] -Astrogation -Beast Riding -Communications -Gunnery -Piloting (Planetary) -Piloting (Space) -Sensors -Shields

Perception [8] -Bargain -Command -Deception -Gambling -Investigation -Persuasion -Search -Stealth

Strength [6] -Brawling -Climbing/Jumping -Lifting -Stamina -Swimming -Running

Technical [10] -Armor Crafting/Repair -Computer Programming/Repair -Demolitions -Droid Programming/Repair -First Aid -Medicine (A) -Security -Starship Repair -Vehicle Repair -Weapon Crafting/Repair

[Telsij]

First off, D6 all the way. Re: your listed concerns, First Edition SWD6 addresses 2 of the 3 primary ones you have, re: the too granular skill list (a frequent complaint about 2nd Edition) and lethality.

The skill list is very much pared down in First Edition, and is already quite similar to what you have listed above. For example, there is only one general starship piloting skill and "heavy weapons" encompasses blaster artillery, vehicle blasters, and larger handheld ranged weapons. Bargain encompasses persuasion, and bureaucracy can be used for diplomatic persuasion as well.

In terms of lethality, in 1E there is no outright kill, only a result of "mortally wounded", and damage must be incurred at 2x or 3x a character's resistance roll in order to have lingering in-game effects: Any hit is a stun, damage must be equal or greater than soak/strength roll to incur a wound, 2x to incapacitate, 3x to mortally wound.

1E ship combat is especially smooth! Speed codes instead of Move scores and all the ranges are relative. The Falcon and TIEs start are at long range and Han wants to make a run for it? The TIEs roll their speed code and piloting, Han rolls his piloting and speed code. Whoever wins closes one range band, from long to medium. +1D to damage at close-range, -1D at long, etc.

The lightsaber combat power is still a point of concern, but there are many house rule variations that do a decent job of addressing the issue without straying too far from the core mechanics.

Personally, I most often play a combination of the two editions, largely 2nd Edition, but with use of a streamlined skill list and the relative range bands, rather than use of specific distances between game elements. The Introductory Adventure Game for SWD6 actually also strikes a nice balance, at least in terms of combining / streamlining skills (one general gunnery skill for planetary craft and spacefaring ones, com-scan as communications and sensors, etc).

[Whill]

[Wajeb Deb Kaadeb]

WEG D6, absolutely. No contest.

[cheshire]

[Alastor04]

I've looked over the books some more and I have two more questions:
1) Is Shields really a reaction skill? it seemed to me they did it before combat?
2) Do you enforce the +1 pip improvement between adventures limit?

[Kytross]

[Solo4114]

I've yet to play or run a 1e game (or any other edition, but most of my books are 1e). I'm really keen to do so if and when I can find the time and a group to do it with. However, based on what I've read, some actual play podcasts I've listened to, and on much of the commentary here, I think I've figured out the following.

The WEG Star Wars RPG is pretty different from a lot of other RPGs, especially stuff like AD&D (and especially old school AD&D/D&D/OSRIC) with regard to lethality. In those games, writing character backgrounds is kinda pointless early on, because you can die pretty easily (e.g. save or die rolls, low hitpoints and lethal combat, etc.).

The philosophy described in the 1e books for WEG's game is different. It's supposed to be a more cinematic adventure on a grand scale. As such, the PCs -- heroes -- aren't really supposed to die, unless it's in an appropriately cinematic way. You can have a party wipe as they, oh, I don't know...STEAL THE PLANS FOR THE DEATH STAR and barely manage to get them to the orbiting fleet. But they won't be killed prior to that. Stunned, captured, gravely wounded, sure. But not killed outright.

I expect that one can choose to run a more lethal campaign if one wants to. You could always set up a house rule for how wounds are handled, for example. But it doesn't seem like the system is designed to be particularly lethal. There are consequences, of course. It's not like a campaign should be a waltz in the park. But that doesn't mean characters die.

Actually...I can see an interesting tale where you run one campaign and the party gets captured and sent to an Imperial prison planet, and then that's it. Game over. They aren't dead, but they aren't going anywhere.....until you set up another campaign where the new PCs break the old ones out of prison! Or, you know, whatever suits your fancy.

[Bren]

[cheshire]

[Bren]

[Solo4114]

[Kytross]

It's a lethal system, but it's also a fair system. It's just as lethal for your enemy as it is for you. You and your players will start to use that to their advantage.

I don't shield my experienced players from the dice. They know the risks and choose to chance the tides of fate. That being said, I also don't set out to kill my players. Usually they know to look for intel, to use tactics to come up with plans and try and talk their way out of fights they don't think they can win.

Just like Han Solo intimidating a bunch of stormtroopers on the Death Star by charging them, they know that if the stormtroopers figure out what's going on, then Han and Chewie better start running. And maybe burn a few CPs on dodge...

It's different with new players who are learning the system, or young kids.

Yes, SW WEG is a cinematic system. I usually describe it to new players as group storytelling with rules. The system lends itself to roleplaying as much as combat. It is incredibly quick to learn, especially character creation. There are some excellent guides on this website.

D&D did focus on combat, the initial system coming from a medieval miniature wargame called Chainmail. Newer versions facilitate roleplaying better, especially 3E and the creation of the D20 system. I always saw that as a reaction to the simplicity of the D6 system, but your mileage may vary.

SW FFG is even more of a cinematic system. Damage isn't rolled, it's calculated before hand. Everyone at the table is involved in every roll. I enjoyed it the one time I played, but I prefer WEG.

Good luck choosing your game!

[yomama360]

I have played FFG, but prefer D6. There was a lot of stuff I liked about the FFG system, but combat was taking forever because you had to compare and eliminate symbols with those dice. The system is great for a game with occasional skill rolls, but heavy battles took forever to resolve.

We actually incorporated a lot of stuff from FFG. We do a hit point system (also found in D6 Space) and strain that everyone seems to understand and enjoy better than the wound system. Simplified the skill list. And we just ruled that shields cover the entire ship for simplicity. But a dedicated crewmember can use their shield skill to increase shields against specific attacks (up to maximum double the shield code).